AP 20030128

Students of Cuban military academies light their torches to participate in the March of the Torches, which started at the university of Havana, in honor of the birthday of Jose Marti, National Hero of Cuba, in Havana, on Monday, Jan. 27, 2003. This year is the 150th anniversary of Marti's birth. (AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera)

AP 20030128

A Cuban border police officer checks a suspicious package found on the shore near Havana in this Jan. 1999 file photo. In a letter by the National Association of Small Farmers published prominently on the back page of the Communist Party tabloid Granma, Cuba's small farmers pledged to help fight the communist island's incipient drug problem, saying they will watch out for and report others who grow, sell or use narcotics in the countryside. The association also acknowledged that drug packages dropped from low-flying planes in isolated coastal areas for transshipment to other countries are sometimes snatched away by third parties who then sell them on the island.(AP photo/jose Goitia)

Reuters 20020911

Brig. Gen. Jose Solar, deputy chief of Cuba's Eastern Army, points September 11, 2002 to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay where some 600 prisoners from Afghanistan are being held. The general, who briefed foreign journalists at the Malones observation point overlooking the base, said Cuba was cooperating with the United States on security issues around the base's 28-km perimeter. REUTERS/Rafael Perez R

 

 

 

 

AP 20020910

Cuban Jose Solar, left, second commander of the Cuban Eastern Army speaks to the media Tuesday, Sept.10,2002 at Cuban Base headquarters in Guantanamo, Cuba. Solar made a positive balance on border relations with the United States Army in Guatanamo Bay, where hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida members are being detained. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

 

AP 20020910

Cuban soldier Luis Prieto points on a map to the U.S. base in Guantanamo, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 in Guantanamo, Cuba. A Cuban army commander made a positive balance on border relations with the United States army of Guantanamo Bay where hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida members are being detained ny tyhe U.S. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

 

AP 20020910

Cuban soldiers march Tuesday Sept.10, 2002 at Cuban Base headquarters in Guantanamo, Cuba. A Cuban army commander made a positive balance on border relations with the United States Army in Guatanamo Bay where hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida members are being detained by the U.S. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP 20020910

Cuban soldiers hold their weapons Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002 at Cuban Base headquarters in Guantanamo, Cuba. A Cuban army commander made a positive balance on border relations with the United States Army in Guatanamo Bay where hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida members are being detained by the U.S. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

 

AP  12/02//01

Cuban troops parade in front of Cuban President Fidel Castro, right, and Cuban Commander of the revolution Juan Almeida, left saluting, Sunday Dec. 2, 2001 in Santiago, Cuba. Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces celebrated its 45th anniversary Sunday. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

 

AP  12/02//01

Men dressed as "Mambises" ride on horseback during a military parade to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces Sunday Dec. 2, 2001 in Santiago, Cuba. Mambises were Cuban independence fighters who helped push out the colonialists. They were men and women on horseback who carried machetes. (AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera)

 

 

 

AP  12/02//01

Soldiers of the country's special troops wait for a military parade to begin, during Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces 45th anniversary celebration in Santiago, Cuba Sunday Dec. 2, 2001. (AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera)

 

 

 

Reuters  12/02//01

Cuban soldiers march December 2, 2001 through Revolution Square in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, during a military parade in front of tens of thousands to mark the 45th anniversary of the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force in 1956, which fought a two-year guerrilla war prior to the January 1, 1959, Cuban Revolution. Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces mark their beginning from that date when Castro and 81 other rebels arrived from Mexico on the Granma boat. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

Reuters  12/02//01

Cuban soldiers march Dec. 2, 2001 through Revolution Square in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, during a military parade in front of tens of thousands to mark the 45th anniversary of the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force on December 2, 1956, which fought a two-year guerrilla war prior to the January 1, 1959, Cuban Revolution. Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces mark their beginning from that date when Castro and 81 other rebels arrived from Mexico on the Granma boat. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

Reuters  12/02//01

Helicopters fly December 2, 2001 over Revolution Square in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, during a military parade in front of tens of thousands of Cubans to mark the 45th anniversary of the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force in 1956, which fought a two-year guerrilla war prior to the January 1, 1959, Cuban Revolution. Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces mark their beginning from that date when Castro and 81 other rebels arrived from Mexico on the Granma boat. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers are shown during a military training session Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Managua military base near Havana, Cuba. The Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military sites around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers are shown during a military training exercise Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Managua military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military sites around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

An unidentified Cuban soldier learns electrical techniques Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Camilitos military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military sites around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers are seen during a military training exercise Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Managua military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military places around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers are seen during a military training exercise Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Camilitos military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military sites around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers practice Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, in Camilitos military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military places around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban soldiers practice on computers Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Camilitos military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour in several military places around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

Cuban children put on a gas mask Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Managua military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour in several military places around Havana, Cuba, preparing for next week's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

AP  12/1/01

An unidentified Cuban soldier plays in a military orchestra Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at Managua military base near Havana, Cuba. Cuban military authorities organized a three-day press tour of several military sites around Havana, Cuba, preparing for Sunday's parade in Santiago that will be held to mark the 45th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

 

 

 

 

Reuters  11/29/01

Cuban soldiers show off training exercises November 28, 2001 during a rare access for foreign media at military bases in the outskirts of Havana during the run-up to Sunday's 45th anniversary of the foundation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The anniversary coincides with the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force by boat on December 2, 1956, prior to a two-year guerrilla war that led to the January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

Reuters  11/29/01

Cuban soldiers show off training exercises November 28, 2001 during a rare access for foreign media at military bases in the outskirts of Havana during the run-up to Sunday's 45th anniversay of the foundation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The anniversary coincides with the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force by boat on December 2, 1956, prior to a two-year guerrilla war that led to the January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

Reuters  11/29/01

Cuban soldiers show off training exercises November 28, 2001 during a rare access for foreign media at military bases in the outskirts of Havana during the run-up to Sunday's 45th anniversary of the foundation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The anniversary coincides with the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force by boat on December 2, 1956, prior to a two-year guerrilla war that led to the January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez)

 

 

 

Reuters  11/29/01

Cuban soldiers show off training exercises November 28, 2001 during a rare access for foreign media at military bases in the outskirts of Havana during the run-up to Sunday's 45th anniversary of the foundation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The anniversary coincides with the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force by boat on December 2, 1956, prior to a two-year guerrilla war that led to the January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution. REUTERS/Rafael Perez

 

 

 

Reuters  11/29/01

Cuban soldiers show off training exercises November 28, 2001 during a rare access for foreign media at military bases in the outskirts of Havana during the run-up to Sunday's 45th anniversary of the foundation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. The anniversary coincides with the arrival of President Fidel Castro's invasion force by boat on December 2, 1956, prior to a two-year guerrilla war that led to the January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution. (REUTERS/Rafael Perez).

 

 

 

Diario Granma 12/15/99

Russian Federation military delegation lays wreath at Plaza de la Revolucion.

Diario Granma 12/1/99

Briefing of troops on the final stage of tactical maneuvers culminating a year long preparation for defense in the Western territory of Cuba.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 12/2/99

Division General Alvaro Lopez Miera explains to Army Corps General Raul Castro the tactical troop movement in the Western territory of Cuba .

 

 

 

Diario Granma 10/21/99

Division General Alvaro Lopez Miera, First Viceminister and Chief of General Staff, addressing the celebration of MINFAR's 40th Anniversary at Universal Hall.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 10/6/98

Army Gen. Raul Castro and the Military Council of the Eastern Army discussing efforts to fortify the nation's defense.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 7/4/98

General Maximo Gomez Academy receives the Antonio Maceo Order given by Army General Raul Castro in celebration of its 35th anniversary.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 3/24/98

Armed Forces remembers 10th anniversary of Cuito Cuanavale battle at FAR Universal Hall in Havana.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 3/19/98

Camilo Cienfuegos Military School (EMCC) of the Eastern Army in Holguin, celebrates 30 years of its founding.

 

 

 

Diario Granma 12/5/97

Cuban militiaman in camouflage practicing surprise attack on Mi14 helicopter.